Tuesday, June 12, 2012

I can't believe it's June 11.
I think I have been running full speed since April or was it March?

Here are some of the highlights.

Sophia's Dance recital.

Malaina won State with the Starlights.

She also finished in the top ten of her Sophomore class.

We've taken numerous rides on the Pumpkin Vine.
Once with friends over spring break. Several times with the kids on a weekend night... And this past weekend Jason's Brother Al his wife Alma and their kids were here so we took them on it.

We wrapped up school at the end of May.
Here is Sophia and her teacher Mrs. Troyer.

The last day I went in for awhile to help supervise games day. It was fun to see the kids interact.

Swimming and eating ice cream with friends.
We went to the lake with some friends but I didn't have my camera along:( the kids had a RIOT
inter-tubing and knee boarding.

And of course Baseball.

Jalen played for his last season of little league this year. He has grown up so much since he first started playing oh so many years ago.

Micah has had a great season as well. He mostly catches but here we caught him pitching... a rare moment of seeing his face without a mask on it. :)

Sophia has also been playing Softball. She is in the pitching machine league. She will move on next year.

She had just smacked the ball and was giving me the thumbs up at first.

Here's the clan on the morning of the last day of school.Jalen played tennis again this spring. Here he is with his good friend Seth.

Sophia at her Spring Recital. She is graduating from elementary school. Wow! She will be leaving the school system and going to a private school next year.

Micah finished another year of Piano. Here he is at his recital with his great teacher Kay.She has taught all but the little one Piano. Last fall I asked Malaina to teach Sophia so I didn't have one more place to run. She has done a wonderful job! In fact it started up a little business for her and she now has 7 students.

Micah has shown a lot of determination this year in learning new instruments along with continuing to be a great piano player. He had the opportunity to play banjo in an American idol contest his school had along with playing guitar and piano in spring concerts.

We took Memorial Day and headed to South Haven. One of my favorite little towns along Lake Michigan.

It was a perfect weather day. Not too hot or cold.

Aren't they so massive?

And look at those lovelies!!

Jalen graduated 8th grade. He ended up on the Honor Roll with awards for his AR points. He has finished Middle School Strong! Our hearts are smiling as we see the big strides he has taken to excel academically this year! He will be leaving and attending a Private School next year as well. We are looking forward to watching as God orders his steps and leads him through High School.

And Then Just on a side note...

WE STARTED BUILDING our house!

It was so amazing to see the first strip of top soil moved. After all these years of waiting to realize a dream being fulfilled is very rewarding.

And by the end of the day a big hole was in the ground.

Several days later the foundation was poured.

On top of all this I finished the year in the Lunch room and God has allowed me to get a new job that I started yesterday.
I will be working at women's clinic as an imaging assistant. When I think of the blessing of this job I am just in awe of how God leads where we don't even dream to go. I will be glad when the training is over. But I am looking forward to the future.
So life has been just a bit busy.
But it's good.
I am blessed.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Recently I was in a building that had many doors going into a large room. I tried the one closest to me and it was locked. So I walked over to the next set of doors and cautiously jiggled the door hoping it would open in a miraculous fashion, but no. After trying the third set of doors with no success I turned on my heels and headed in another direction. But I felt a little dejected. I really wanted in and there were actually people in there and no one invited me to join. Yes I was careful not to be disruptive but still...it felt like I was unwanted.

Doors.

We each have a set or two or three or more in our lives.

Some doors are left swinging wide open and it's easy to walk through. Some are shut but if we knock we know someone will answer and let us in. And then sometimes doors are shut so tight it feels like there really isn't going to be an invitation to join anytime soon.

I have some doors that have recently been swinging Wide open... Welcoming me in without even a knock.

And some that have felt like I couldn't pry them open with a crow bar.
It's disturbing.
And it makes me feel insecure when that happens.
I wonder if I am so flawed that the person on the other side can see something so hideous that they don't even want to give me a chance.
And I wonder if I even have what it takes anymore.
Or ever did?.

Then of course I think.... Do I make people feel like my door is shut so tightly that the handle is glued and won't budge?
And They can't get in.
That there will be no place for them ever.
I pray I don't.
And won't.
And ask for forgiveness if I have unknowingly done that.

There is one who knocks on doors every day.
Every Hour.
Every minute.

He says If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door... I will come in.

The choice is ours.
Will we choose to let him inside?
We can pretend we don't hear.
Or that we're not home.
He will not barrel through the door.
He is a gentleman.

But he wants to sit with us and tell us that he is enough for us.
He whispers... "I formed you and I know you have what it takes".
And when we know who we are in him locked doors won't hurt quite as much.

Because I know this...
His is the only door that really matters.
Really.

And in our lives there will be no door left locked that he wants us to walk through.